Stimulus funding to complete Paseo Trail

The final unpaved portion of Chandler's canal-side Paseo Trail will soon get a concrete path, lights and pedestrian bridges, thanks to a $750,000 federal stimulus grant.

The money, allocated for transportation enhancement projects, will extend a 10-foot-wide lighted concrete path from Pecos Road to Galveston Street and two pedestrian bridges across the canal near Frye Road and Galveston Street. The 18-mile trail that extends through Gilbert and Mesa is designed to promote recreation, fitness and alternative transportation along a Salt River Project Consolidated Canal. It is popular with bicyclists, joggers, dog-walkers and occasional horseback riders.

The route is paved through the southern part of the Chandler from Riggs to Pecos roads and north of Galveston Street in Gilbert where it becomes the town's Heritage Trail.

City spokesman Jim Phipps said work on the north Chandler improvements will start this fall.

Because of the heavy trail use Chandler and Gilbert have been installing pedestrian-activated traffic signals at several of the canal's busiest street crossings. In 2007 Chandler counted 124 Paseo Trail users crossing Pecos Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p. p.m. one Saturday.

Phipps said the trail was noted by Prevention magazine when it named Chandler one of the "Top 10 Best Fitness Walking Cities" in the nation.